Mike Jones

These days it seems like literally EVERYONE has the answer to your stock firearm. Not to mention a laundry list of complaints. More than I can recall, I seem to read about triggers. Everything from "crunchy" to "dragging" to God only knows what. Every gun god in the world seems to have all of the answers to correct the firearm that the manufacturer deemed sale-worthy. Do I have a counterpoint? Why, yes I do.Factory vs Custom? Make your case!
These days it seems like literally EVERYONE has the answer to your stock firearm. Not to mention a laundry list of complaints. More than I can recall, I seem to read about triggers. Everything from "crunchy" to "dragging" to God only knows what. Every gun god in the world seems to have all of the answers to correct the firearm that the manufacturer deemed sale-worthy. Do I have a counterpoint? Why, yes I do.

Although triggers may be made to look awesome and indeed significantly up the performance of what would otherwise be a standard firearm, there remains a vast level of places where this simply is not an option. Most law enforcement agencies will not allow personnel to modify their duty weapons, leaving that factory trigger in place. Guess what? DEAL WITH IT!! You had damned well better learn to operate that weapon with the garbage trigger the maker thoughtlessly crammed in there - not taking into account that boxes of bullets you may have to sling at the zombie horde.
Personally I feel the same way about many mechanical modifications as I do about other upgrades. Worth it? You bet your ass. So long as your SKILL matches the money spent. You may not have the luxury of always having a heavily modified race pistol always at your disposal. Better hope you trained that stock trigger to the best of your ability. Think of it this way: put it in the same category as your iron sights. Sure, lots of people race out and drop a fancy sight or scope on their weapon as fast as they can afford to. But - do they really have good cause? Or do we go back and reread "Tacticool" again? *Sigh*
If you're not shooting 3 Gun or some other form of competition where speed is a measured factor...spend the money on TRAINING. Here come the comments about that extra .023 seconds that could save your life in a gunfight. From people that have NEVER been in one and likely never will. I'm not saying not make the mods. I'm saying to make the mods once your are FULLY COMPETENT to use them effectively.

Here it is folks. The range day AAR on the Atibal Sights MCRD.
Told a Marine buddy what I was up to. He insisted on participating. "You bring your toys, I'll bring mine." Hell, done deal. Get the chance to destroy stuff wholesale in the name of "T&E" and chill with a brother? Done. First run, we talked it out. Are we going to plunge this thing off of a 50ft cliff? No. We are going to test it under conditions we consider to be NORMAL prepper/shooter usage. Reality based evaluation as we do with all things. Grabbed gear, weaps and kit. Tossed it in the rig and drove the back gravel roads.

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Got to the range for a two part experiment. Using a YHM EOTech mount, attached the sight to a JRC 9mm carbine I bought and hopped up a bit. Using the YHM base will keep the sight stably mounted and allow for the multiple weapons we were going to beat this sight with. Took it the range and got in a solid zero at 25m. Took 10rds and a few adjustments. Easy to do with the way the sight is set up. We decided to use the MCRD's built in light sensor as we were going to move from overhead cover into direct sun. Put 300rds of 9mm through once zero was established. Zero malfunctions and the MCRD confidently held zero - no questions asked. Played around a bit more and called it a day. The real test yet to come.
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Came back on Day 2 with "The Pile" ready to put this little thing through it's paces. It's going to earn it's keep today or it's headed back, head hung in shame. Dismounted the sight and placed it first on the FN TP12ga followed by my friend's 870 Custom. We put over what must have been 100 rounds through the shotguns during various drills. The MCRD is not going to be changed for zero. We just wanted to see where it would be after beating on it all day. We used 00 buck for the most part, but transitioned out to 25m targets using slugs. It's almost as if the sight enjoys punishment. We both anticipated it to start blinking out or somehow die. Not today? Ok, then. Let's move on. You're going on the AK next.
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Placed the sight next on the Arsenal SAM7R. POUNDED ammo to this thing. Fired an estimated 250 rounds, treating the Arsenal the way an AK usually gets treated. No changes this time, either. Using the AK's already mounted scope rail and moving some parts around (as you can see), the MCRD still running strong at the end of the available AK ammo. Hmph. Still won't die, eh? We'll just see about that.
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Next on deck was my AR. Had a half dozen magazines to go through. Made the changeover and commenced the beating. A few hours and a few bottles of water later, the MCRD continues to impress. So now the question is: "Did it survive the day?" Time to reattach it to the JRC and see whether this thing is worthy of going in the kit. Swapped over and conducted zero check. Well, damn. Looks like the new kid is here to stay. Proof is in the pudding. A few shots just for the sake of it. Then using available real estate on the target to see what's what.
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This sight is without doubt one of the best up and comers I'm aware of. I honestly fully expected this thing to fail. We were NOT nice to it. Boasting a LIFETIME warranty, where can you go wrong? I'm very eagerly looking forward to seeing Atibal Sight's next offering. If it's in the same ballpark as the MCRD, I'll be coming back here to tell you. Here at Crisis Application Group, we KNOW that people aren't made from money. Every dollar counts. This is what initially drew my attention to Atibal. I consider it time well spent and I'm confident you will, too.

The plan is to revisit this subject in six months to see where this sight is then. My bet is still going strong. We shall see. www.atibalsights.com
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You've seen them around. You've seen the infamous "green-eyed" image. The you ask yourself: Is night vision for my weapon (or any other related task) a realistic expense for me? Honest answer, only you know.NVGs: Can you justify it?
You've seen them around. You've seen the infamous "green-eyed" image. Then you ask yourself: Is night vision for my weapon (or any other related task) a realistic expense for me? Honest answer, only you know.
Night vision on a defensive weapon system is completely subjective. For the average prepper this might even be a distant dream. Cost always being the number one issue to overcome. Which one to buy? Which "Generation"? Head mount or mounted to the gun? Well, let's examine where you are in your preps and where you see yourself in the grand scheme of things.

Quality night visions can be had relatively inexpensively. From any one of various online suppliers to gun shows to even eBay and amazon. Typically for a weapon mounted system, I'd say the tried and true PVS-14 like the one shown here, Gen 3 or better. Solid balance of features vs cost. Head mount, weapon mount or standalone...the PVS-14 is going to meet your needs. Is that the only choice? NO. But it's one of the best.
What are your needs? Why would you mount night vision to a weapon system? There are indeed several angles to see this from. The actuation of a weapon light may not always be the best option when low/no light scenarios play out. The ability to see when others cannot need not be explained in detail. Hunting in a grid-down situation could make vastly easier using infrared. Threat identification and maintaining stealth also cannot be overstated. The ability to dismount the sight and use it in "standalone" mode is also, in my honest opinion, critical. In complete, 100% darkness, modern night vision are equipped with a device called an "IR illuminators". Essentially a built-in infrared flashlight. No light? No problem.
Can less expensive NVG's handle the shock of a modern firearm? I can't speak for the under $1000 versions. I'm sure they have their strengths. One of the most imperative features is the "image intensifier tube". The part of the NVG that actually interprets and projects the image you see. Older tubes were made of glass which were notorious for breakage. Modern, more advanced NVG's tubes are made of a composite material which is much more robust and thus can take more punishment. Care and feeding of your NVG's is a topic that many people who have limited or no exposure will want to invest time in.
Typical models employ one or two "AA" batteries, so locating power for your night vision shouldn't be a problem. Also to consider is your intended usage overall. Firearm mounted NV tends to be "monocular" or single tube units. There are several other types of night vision that would be equally effective in a head/helmet mounted setup. Just depends on your as the user.

Bottom line you have to answer is: Do I NEED this or WANT it? To ME, that answer is subjective. I feel personally that due to its obvious strategic and tactical advantage...it's a NEED. But that's me. At Crisis Application Group, we are prepared to make sure your needs and wants balance out in your plans for prepping for any scenario.
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We get asked constantly. Which weapon light is the right one for me? Well, that depends on you and your needs more than anything. There are just as many makers as there are opinions. We are at this time, not sponsored by nor compensated in any way to endorse any company's product so what you will read will be 100% based on experience and actual usage. Weapon lights come in every imaginable shape, size and configuration. You are just as sure to hear as much snobbery over lights as you are the weapons they go on, caliber and every other thing. Bottom line - you have to be honest with yourself. Be willing to admit your weaknesses and buy the right tool to enhance your capabilities and not just up your "cool factor". If you spent $500 on the latest super-rig because people look at it with envy on the range, you are screwing yourself. How is that light going to help you in the middle if the night when you get up to respond to the noise that terrified your family?Weapon lights. Which one and why.

We get asked constantly. Which weapon light is the right one for me? Well, that depends on you and your needs more than anything. There are just as many makers as there are opinions. We are at this time, not sponsored by nor compensated in any way to endorse any company's product so what you will read will be 100% based on experience and actual usage.
Weapon lights come in every imaginable shape, size and configuration. You are just as sure to hear as much snobbery over lights as you are the weapons they go on, caliber and every other thing. Bottom line - you have to be honest with yourself. Be willing to admit your weaknesses and buy the right tool to enhance your capabilities and not just up your "cool factor". If you spent $500 (or more) on the latest super-rig because people look at it with envy on the range, you are screwing yourself. How is that light going to help you in the middle if the night when you get up to respond to the noise that terrified your family?

Here are some things to consider: Most makers offer a wide range of "lumen" selection. Now, lumens are subjective. What is 200lm from one maker may only amount to 100 in another or be more like 350 to yet another. Best thing really is to ask your sales rep to let you TRY it. Any good sales place should have a demo model to let you see the actual output. Remembering that when you rise from being deeply asleep, your eyes have not had sufficient time to adjust to current light conditions. What you are looking for as an average user is a healthy balance. The 150lm to 300lm range is usually more than sufficient. The phenomena of "bounce back" is where your emitted light reflects back off of your white walls or other surfaces in your home and does just as much damage to your night vision as the intruder's. No bueno. Being able to positively ID a threat without cooking him via white light output is your end goal.
Mounting hardware. How does the light attach to your weapon? Will it easily switch between rifle/pistol? Are you looking for a dedicated, weapon-specific platform? Are you on a budget and need one light to go back and forth with? All points that need to be decided before you buy. The simple act of being honest with yourself will not only save you money, but guarantee that when that moment comes...you're properly equipped to meet the threat head on. Are tools needed? Is the mount solid and free of wiggle? Tape switches or otherwise remote activation? How does the switch feel? Is it located comfortably? Ergonomics play a critical role in weapon manipulation, especially in high stress scenarios.
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Batteries! Good Lord, the nightmare of batteries. We all love the high-powered lights, but damn...do they ever eat those CR123's. And considering that they typically run around $30/dozen IF you can find them...it might be worth considering another option. There are options out there that run on more widely available batteries is again money is not pouring out of a fountain for you. Sometimes, the most expensive is not always the best option. Don't rule out the good old handheld light. They still have their place. From the prepper's perspective, you may only be trying to stock one or two types of batteries. It may simply not be conducive to try and become Battery Central. Point to consider in your long term planning.

LED vs. conventional? Frankly? LED all the way, IMO. Better light quality. Significantly longer battery life. Better beam projection. Simply superior in every way. The problem of older type bulbs simply put: They FAIL. At the WORST possible moment. And they are usually not cheap to replace on reputable light systems. Models with any respectable output might be near as expensive to buy a new bulb as to simply buy a lesser expensive light from a different maker. "Throw" refers to how far a light will project it's beam from the bezel. Are you looking more for a flood beam or a spot beam? Is infrared something you are looking for? Some lights are also equipped with aiming lasers. Some people would shun this. I'm not one of them. Not everyone in the world just retired from DEVGRU and has hundreds of hours in complex low/no light weapons training. ANY advantage that can guarantee you are landing ordnance on your ID'd threat and not an innocent...is INSURANCE. Both morally and legally. There is an inherent value to a laser in certain situations. Is it going to invite an involuntary bowel evacuation from your attacker? Likely not. Be he/she for DAMNED sure is going to think twice.
Think about it. The most elite, highly skilled operators in the world still use aiming lasers. Point taken? Remember that as always, here at Crisis Application Group we can CUSTOM TAILOR courses to meet your individual needs. Not every question can be addressed via internet blog. Not every gunfight can be easily dissected and explained away at a keyboard. You have to invest the mental sweat equity to TRAIN your BRAIN to be ready for the threat. Gear HELPS. But it does not solve everything. The Warrior Mind is what must be developed in order to achieve victory. We can and will help you with that.
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Are you letting your desire for awesome outweigh your skill?
In case you haven't figured it out yet, we have a tendency around here to kinda not hold back. Such is the nature of our profession. Tonight's discussion is regarding a personal pet peeve of mine. All of those guys out there who let their wallets outrun their brains...and their skill sets...and chase that ever present demon. TACTICOOL!
In the firearm community, it never fails that when you host a class there are some people who show up predestined to fail. There is always at least ONE person who shows up (besides the loads of completely normal students) with at least one of the following of the two self-inflicted deficiencies:
1. "The Commando". The guy who spent $10k on a full-on arsenal and has NO idea WTF to do with it all. But BOY, is he quick to tell you everything there is to know about it! And correct you as the instruction cadre about anything you may have to say about it.
and...
2. "The New Guy". This guy is actually PREFERABLE over guy Number 1, frankly. He's the guy that just bought his first Glock and only had enough left over for a Hi Point carbine that takes the same ammo. Guy Number 1 is taking great relish is ripping on him relentlessly, but that's ok. We'll get to that shortly. This guy is not necessarily an issue, but has confidence issues that need to be addressed immediately, as that Hi Point is overloaded with a ton of crap that is going to hurt more than help.

Bottom line is this: Not everyone is made from money. Not everyone is made from common sense, either. If people were to invest equal amounts of capital in their training as their gear, we'd all be a hell of a lot better off. It's unfortunate that shooters will spend money on vast amounts of equipment but fail to invest in the mental tool box. Having the toys but not the talent is a tragic disservice.
The failure is not only in gear investment. It comes in the form of personal failure as well. Going online and buying a set of DVD's and attempting to repeat the motions until you feel you "can do it as well as he can" is just as foolish. There are literally mountains of scenarios that can present themselves that could endanger the shooter or others around him/her. Simply repeating the drills does not teach the importance of WHY the drills exist. Nor does it teach the developing shooter the importance of how the drill affects their skill set in the long run.
Next in the string of failure is the "youtube trainer". Inevitably, there are those guys that have spent hours on youtube watching every "trainer" there is believing that they now have unlocked "Operator" status and are now fully "trained up" simply from having seen these videos. They've listened to all these "pros" and they've learned enough lingo that they might even be able to keep up in a conversation for a short while. These people will get weeded out very quickly when the shooting starts. You are not going to truly learn anything of any significant value by watching youtube videos. You may learn what NOT to do. You may learn how to locate a reputable trainer. But watching videos is not training. Anyone that tells you otherwise is going to get you injured/killed.

Overcompensation is yet another failure in the long string of "Operator Headspace". Letting your wallet outrun your skill set. If you have NO prior experience, why are you buying a $2k AR with an additional $2k of strap on toys you don't know how to use? Because you are going to learn how? Would not it be wiser to invest in a base model rifle and some classes with a professional instructor? Learn to basics and develop a set of solid fundamentals and then consider upgrading your gear once you are fully competent as a shooter? You can have all of the best gear on the planet, but if you can't establish a baseline zero that gear isn't going to amount to a squirt of piss. And truthfully, you are running the risk of doing more harm then good.
Here's another fantasy destroyed. Just because someone "was in the military", does NOT mean they are qualified to instruct you in marksmanship/defensive arts. The US Armed Forces arms standards are not all they're cracked up to be, frankly. Not all of the military are Combat Arms people and not all who were are Expert Marksman and not all who were are truly "Warriors" in the literal sense of the word. This is not to impugn the integrity of our military personnel in any way, but facts are facts. You want your money to count for something. You want to know that the guy "training" you for the gun fight for your very life wasn't the slacker who scored the career "pizza box" on the range. You want that one guy...
So, to that guy who is just getting started and is on a budget and doesn't know where to start. I hope you'll take this to heart. Start here by knowing that you need to invest in the MENTAL TOOL BOX first. We can help you with that. Forget Tacticool. Heed the following and let it sink in. And let the moron Guy Number 1 continue being broke but looking cool while making an ass of himself while doing so. We all know the difference.
Don't make the mistake of spending money on gear or training you don't need. Crisis Application Group stands behind the curriculum we produce. We stand behind our staff. We stand behind our philosophy. And we're not going to attempt to sell you something that isn't going to benefit you. We're not here to teach you how to fight a war you're not going to be in. We're here to teach you how to win. To win the fight you may find yourself in. To THINK past the fight someone may inadvertently place you in against your will.
This may or may not require specialized gear. High dollar weapons or optics. That will depend 100% on YOU.
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Gather 'round, preppers. We need to talk.
We are constantly on the hunt for new and innovative products that aren't going to kill your wallet but will still provide you reliable service. We feel pretty good about an upcoming company we've recently discovered.

The guys over at Atibal Sights have got some wicked little toys that are delivering the bang for your buck. And they're getting it done pretty well so far from what we've seen. I first found them when their website popped up in my feed. I get a LOT of firearm related gear in my feed, but I started seeing these guys quite a bit. I figured, "Why not?" Called them direct and filled them in what it is we do professionally and we got sent a sample model of their MCRD, or Micro Red Dot sight.

The box shows up. Attractive packaging which is a plus, pride in product. Bonus one of many. Upon opening I notice that the unit runs on an included AAA battery. Another plus as preppers tend to be rather...cough...frugal...in nature. No super expensive camera batteries to hunt for should that "grid down" scenario come to pass. The unit comes with the installation wrench, a lens cloth, wrapped carefully in protective foam and includes comprehensive instructions.
The unit feature side mounted controls, which for me is a huge bonus so I don't have to jack around with ill conceived buttons and gloves in bad timed evolutions. Then came the little thing on top which peaked my interest. Back to the instructions, which had I read fully in the first place...
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The object is an active sensor that allows the unit to detect changing light conditions and adjust accordingly to guard your hash when you go from bright outside to a dark interior. Pretty cool if you ask me. This feature is actuated with a single press of the conveniently located power switch on the left side of the body.
Aesthetically, the unit is overall fairly attractive which to me is not necessarily a show stopper but it certainly doesn't hurt, either. Pound for pound, you wouldn't know that you hadn't spent quite a bit more than you had. We all know that money these days doesn't go near as far as it used to. That is what initially drew my attention to Atibal. What was this? Airsoft copies? Nope. Turns out they are a great group of guys trying to bang out a living the American way just like the rest of us.

They are providing a quality product at a great price and doing so in a time when that's not so easy. You are going to very soon be seeing their entire product line available in our CAG online store. This will also be an ongoing review process as we are looking very much forward to seeing more of their products up close. Part 2 of this review will be range review where we put this model through it's paces...
#newprepperfirearmhotness #awinningteam #atibalisdoinwork #preppersaintcheap
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The argument has been had over and over, time and again. Now its time to settle the debate, the jury has come back in. The (un)official best "Prepper Handgun" you can buy is the Glock 19. The Glock 19 has been selected as the critic's choice as the Chosen One. Why you may ask? We're glad you asked!The argument has been had over and over, time and again. Now its time to settle the debate, the jury has come back in. The (un)official best "Prepper Handgun" you can buy is the Glock 19. The Glock 19 has been selected as the critic's choice as the Chosen One. Why you may ask? We're glad you asked!
Over the course of many years, countless debates and ballistics tests, the 9mm has been selected as the superior defensive round by a scientific, comprehensive review of it's velocity, penetration and capacity. Manageable recoil, wide availability, international usage and low price point are but a few other major considerations.

Never to be at a lack of upgrades, modifications, or performance enhancements - the Glock 19 is a solid fit in the hands of the most battle hardened operator or the newest lady shooter, having never touched a firearm previously. User friendly fire control, no clumsy exterior controls or levers to get hung up on, the G19's sleek lines won't bind up in a holster or get hung in a cover garment when making a draw in a defensive scenario.
No special tools or complicated breakdown procedures, the G19 breaks down in three easy steps. Presto, you're done. Lubricant/CLP of your choice and she's battle ready. Using it's own magazines or it's bigger brother's, it's combat adaptable to almost any scenario. Robust in it's construction, the finish is highly corrosion and scratch resistant. You won't have to worry about it being to susceptible to too much as far as wear and tear is concerned.

Many makers out there have found that they can make near perfect better. There are barrels, pin kits, triggers, frame enhancements, lights and sights...well...you get the point. And if you think by now that we dig Glocks, you'd be spot on! We do. And with good reason. No, we are not sponsored by them. We receive no kickback from them. We simply go with what works and what we've come to trust and feel comfortable recommending you trust as well.
While we agree there is NO such thing as a "one stop solution", the G19 is pretty darned close. It performs very well under combat stresses as we effectively demonstrated to our recent pistol clinic class held in Ohio.
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We are interested in your feedback whether you agree or not. Your opinions are equally valid, just make sure you use fact and reason as your tools!

Certainly underrated and overlooked in today's market as friend to the prepper arsenal, that shotgun is without doubt one of the most valuable weapon systems you can own.Certainly underrated and overlooked in today's market as friend to the prepper arsenal, the shotgun is without doubt one of the most valuable weapon systems you can own.
A proven performer, the shotgun boasts the widest array of specialty ammunition selections there is and without argument the largest compliment of capability. From standard shot and slugs to "Less Lethal" to multiple forms of specialty ammunition intended for dealing with threats of all shapes and sizes, even signaling via flares - look no further than your friendly pump action or auto shotgun.

Not all preppers are made out of money these days. Many cannot afford to drop a grand or more on an AR or higher end AK or similar. Much less all of the magazines and additional accessories needed to complete the package but nonetheless want the ability to effectively defend what is theirs. The shotgun allows them a lower cost but incredibly effective alternative to accomplish this task.

Pictured above is my personal choice for this piece of the small arms puzzle, the FN Tactical Police. Outfitted with AR type sights, grip and telescopic stock. A C-More red dot fast acquisition sight and a ported barrel with selectable chokes, this particular model fits the bill for all of the needs I look for when I search for a shotgun. Highly reliable, I choose the pump-action as I personally feel that semi-autos have a higher fail rate. But that's just my personal opinion. (and experience)
Where ammunition is concerned, it's typically stacked with full power 00 buckshot or slugs. Also readily available, a nauseating array of specialty ammunition because I like it and like to push this platform to it's limits. I keep a wide array of LTL ammo on or near the gun in the event of a home defense or other scenario that doesn't require a lethal response. If I don't HAVE to kill, I'd rather not. "Bean Bags", rubber rockets, baton rounds, rubber pellets, pepper spray, hydrokinetic impact bags and quite a few others open up a plethora of options for you to select from to change the outcome of your situation. Not every encounter needs to result in death. We'll let you decide which ones do.

As far as things like "reduced power" and "low recoil" rounds. Foolish. The only person you are screwing there is YOU. By reducing recoil or power you are in fact reducing EFFECTIVENESS. Your life, your choice. Train how you intend to fight.
Widely available and typically considered highly reliable, the shotgun has for over a century fed, fought and provided for countless lives and will continue to do so for many years to come. Let's see yours, hear about what you chose and why and hear some feedback about where you stand on the mighty SHOTGUN!

Easy question to answer! Self sufficient personnel often ask Austere Medical Professionals which medications, especially antibiotics they should stockpile to treat themselves or others in preparation of a time where...